Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Fiddler, Burns Night, Glasgow

This evening, I attended a Burns Night Supper in Glasgow arranged by the local centre of Scotland’s National Trust.

The programme was as follows:

• There was a lad
• Fiddle selection by Hugh MacGilp
• The Immortal Memory
• Songs by harpist, Pauline Vallance.
• Toast to the Lassies by Iain McGillivray
• Green Grow the Rashes
• Fiddle selection by Hugh MacGilp
• A rendition of Tam o’Shanter by George Robertson
• Songs by harpist, Pauline Vallance
• Vote of Thanks by John Foote
• Auld Lang Syne

Sangs and Clatter, Burns Night, Glasgow

Toast to the Lassies, Burns Night, Scotland

Reply for the Lasses, Burns Night, Glasgow

Harpist with Clasarch Harp, Burns Night, Glasgow

An enjoyable and convivial evening.

Town Centre, Dumfries, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on Dumfries, the largest town in South-West Scotland which has a long history. The name may derive from a combination of Dun (fort) and praes (thicket) which could indicate settlement dating back to the Iron-Age (about 2000 years ago). A summary of the last 1000 years is provided below.

• Established as a small village in AD1100 in the then separate Kingdom of Galloway. Subsequently grew in size and importance to become the Royal Burgh of Dumfries within 100 years.
• Castle founded in 1185 and replaced by a stone castle in the 1260s.By the 13th century three more castles had been built.
• In February 1306 Robert the Bruce stabbed John Comyn to death in Greyfrairs Church, an act which facilitated Bruce’s control of the Scottish Crown.
• Seven Trade Guilds established  by the late 1500s.
• From earliest times the town was empowered to hold two weekly markets.
• In the 17th century, Dumfries was embroiled in the religious strife linked to covenanting
• In the 18th century  (Dec 1745) the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie occupied Dumfries and demanded a fine of two thousand pounds.
• Dumfries prospered on the back of a diversity of trades and industries including tanning, leatherworking, shoe-making, clog making, saddlery, brewing, distilling and milling. Hatmaking  prospered briefly but failed by the 1860s. Hosiery and tweed manufacture were also important in the 19th century.
• During the early part of the 20th century a motor car industry flourished. There was the Arrol-Johnson car and then the Galloway car.
• Perhaps the town’s best claim to fame is via the Robert Burns connection. The poet visited Dumfries in 1787  to purchase a farm and moved into a new house there in 1789. Burns died at Dumfries in 1796 age 37 years. Below is an image of the Globe Inn where Burns was a regular customer. 

Globe Inn, Dunfries, Scotland

I usually include a visit to Dumfries in my tours of the Scottish Borders.

River Ayr, Mauchline, Scotland

This evening, the focus of my post is Mauchline, a small town in Ayrshire Scotland being about 80 miles from Edinburgh which boast some interesting history and benefits from stunning scenery in a nearby gorge.

Key features:

• The name has Gaelic origins and translates as ‘pool plain’.
• A Cisercian abbey was establisehd in the 12th century the remains of which have evloved Mauchline Castle, in the centre of town.
• Was a covenanter stronghold.
• Industries in the past included sandstone quarrying, clock making and manufacture of curling stones. Latter are still manufactured at Mauchline today.
• Very strong connection with Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns whose wife, Jean Armour was born at Mauchline. Burns farmed at nearby Mossgiel Farm.
• Nearby, at Ballochmyle, on a vertical sandstone cliff can be found some of Britain’s finest cup-and-ring marks dating from prehistoric times.

Mauchline Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland

Here is the centre of Mauchline.

Centre of Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland

This is Poosie Nansie’s Inn which is just a stone’s throw from the site of the house where Burns’ wife Jean Armour lived. The atmosphere and clientele at Poosie Nansie’s inspired Burns to write ‘The Jolly Beggars’.

Poosie Nansie's Pub, Mauchline, Scotland

Mauchline Church

Mauchline Church, Ayrshire, Scotland

Burns Museum at Mauchline.

Burns Museum, Mauchline, Scotland

This inscription can be found on the property next to Poosie Nansie’s (Cowgate) and was formerly the Whitefoord Arms. It reads:

“This is the house tho’ bilt anew where ‘Burns’ cam weary frae the plough to hae a crack wi Johnny Dow on nights ateen and whiles to haste his mountain… wi Connie Jean.”  This relates to courting of Jean Armour by Robert Burns. John Dow (or Dove) was the publican of the Whitefoord Arms.

Burns inspired inscription opposite Poosie Nansie's Pub, Mauchline

Overall, a fascinting place to spend a day.